City of Westland Michigan Property Tax Information

Most property owners in Wayne County, Michigan, pay their property taxes according to the county’s assessment, but city residents of Westland, Michigan, march to the beat of a different drummer. That’s because property taxes in Westland, MI, are assessed by the city’s own tax assessor. The City of Westland’s tax assessor appraises property, determines property values and calculates property taxes for city residents.

The City of Westland assessor is responsible for determining the value of property, which also determines a resident’s property tax liability. This determination is made each year, based on the assessor’s multi-pronged approach to valuation. The assessor considers lots of contributing factors, including a property’s features, comparable properties that are nearby, recent real estate sales, a property’s operating costs and market interest rates.

Property assessments may change from year to year, not only because of market trends but also because of changes to a structure because of additions or damage. Changes include renovations that may increase property value, such as adding a room, and damage that may decrease property value, including fire or storm damage. It’s a property owner’s responsibility to report to the assessor’s office any material change that may affect the property’s value.

The Westland assessor’s office uses three approaches to value when performing property appraisals:

1. Sales comparison approach. This method compares recent sales of comparable properties to the subject property.
2. Cost approach. This method estimates how much it would cost to replace a property with an identical property, considering depreciation and normal wear and tear, among other contributing factors.
3. Income approach. This method determines the value of rental properties and their ability to generate income.

Westland property tax is assessed on 50 percent of the cash value of a property as of Dec. 31 each year. The assessor’s office multiplies the local millage rate by this 50 percent value to determine the actual amount of property tax. Millage rates vary, depending on voter approval and taxing jurisdictions’ decisions.

Beginning in 1995, legislation capped the annual increase in property tax assessments at the lower of 5 percent or the consumer price index, with the exception of new construction or property demolition.

Property taxes in Westland, MI, are reduced by homestead exemptions. You’ll be able to claim a homestead exemption for a property that is your primary residence. The assessor’s office will confirm that the property is your primary residence by requiring your driver’s license address, voting address and income tax filing address to be the same address. The assessor’s office may also grant a homestead exemption on a case-by-case basis for certain tracts of farmland, green spaces and to veterans.

To file for a homestead exemption for your property, request a Homeowners Principal Residence Exemption Affidavit (formerly called a Homestead Exemption Affidavit) from the assessor’s office.

Westland’s Finance Department collects property taxes and sends tax bills twice each year – on July 1 and Dec. 1. Taxpayers must pay the July tax bill by Aug. 15 and the December tax bill by Feb. 14 unless the city council extends these due dates.

If you need to request a summer tax deferral, contact the Finance Department at 734-467-3172 or download the application from the City of Westland website.